uh.edu/socialwork
COURSE TITLE/SECTION: SOCW 7354 (17514) Spirituality and Aging
TIME: Monday 9:00am – 12:00pm
FACULTY: W. Andrew Achenbaum
E-mail: achenbaum@uh.edu
I.
Phone: 713/516-8580
Course
A. Catalog Description
Cr. 3 (3-0). Prerequisite: 31 hours in social work or consent of instructor.
Examines the significance of spirituality over the life course with attention to the
theoretical connections among spirituality, religion, and vital aging as well as
clinical implications for practice with clients.
B. Purpose
This elective course is designed to familiarize students with western and eastern
spiritual exercises, life review, and autobiographies as ways to expose older
people to possibilities for inner reflections and social connections that traditional
religious institutions do not always afford.
II.
Course Objectives
Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:
1. Distinguish between spirituality and religion within and across cultural
boundaries
2. Trace the importance of spirituality over the life span
3. Demonstrate spiritually sensitive approaches in a manner consistent
with the NASW Code of Ethics
4. Use spiritual exercises as a way to integrate personal and professional
dimensions of self.
5. Express ways in which spirituality may be influenced by one’s gender,
class, race, ethnicity, age, and sexual/affectional preference.
6. Describe ways to introduce spirituality into social work practice.
III.
Course Content
SOCW 7354 will focus on several pathways to spiritual development and identify
SOCW 7354, Section 17514, Spring 2016
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various ways in which social workers might incorporate spirituality into their
practice. The course will entail discussing assigned readings, preparing a class
meditation, keeping a journal, and writing a paper applying ideas you have
learned.
IV.
Textbooks
Hesse, H. SIDDHARTHA
Olsen T & L Tolstoy (2007) THE RIDDLE OF LIFE AND DEATH. Feminisr
Rohr, R. (2013). FALLING UPWARD—A COMPANION JOURNAL Jossey Bass
Thibault, J. M. and R. L. Morgan (2009). No Act of Love Is Ever Wasted.
Nashville: Upper Room Books.
Weber, R.L. & C. Orsborn (2014). THE SPIRITUALITY OF AGE. Park Street P.
V.
Course Requirements
This section should identify the course assignments, including written
assignments, projects, and exams, as well as due dates. It is suggested that any
stipulations regarding late submissions be included here.
A. Students will keep up with readings in order to join class discussions.
B. Written assignments will be negotiated with the instructor. The term paper
(8-10 pages) will describe a technique (1) for inviting clients to tap their
spiritual dimensions in a social-work setting OR (2) taking care of yourself
in your social-work practice as a clinician and empathetic person. Group
projects are permissible as long as they serve everyone’s professional
development.
C. Students will work together in creating a 20-30 minute meditation for the
beginning of a class meeting to be determined. They should give the class
some take-away materials that to help them use the technique discussed.
D. Each student will keep a journal, logging their spiritual journey during the
term. Beginning the week of February 1, I ask students to include in their
journal entry reflections on Rohr’s COMPANION JOURNAL, interpreted as
you deem appropriate. This course requirement will not be graded for
entries but its content will be shown to the instructor in class.
E. There will be no mid-term or final examination.
VI.
Evaluation and Grading
A. General:
In accordance with GCSW policies, two absences (granted before class)
are permitted. Excessive absences, excused or not, will adversely affect
SOCW 7354, Section 17514, Spring 2016
Page 2
grades. Given the nature of the course material, all of us should exercise
care to respect individual diversity of traditions and beliefs. We shall focus
on issues of spirituality, not religion. Questioning ideas is fine; derogating
people is not. We want to establish a level of trust so that we all feel
comfortable bridging professional and personal spheres. This is a spiritual
task.
B. Evaluation
Class participation (including meditation exercise and practical
application), 50%; paper 1 counts 10%; 2d paper, 30%; journal, 10%.
C. Grades
Incompletes, in accordance with UH policy, will be given only in instances
that, for reasons beyond a student’s control, a temporary and conditional
grade is warranted. Students are responsible for informing me
immediately the reasons for being unable to complete an assignment.
Unfinished assignments must be completed early within the next term.
Students should be instructed not to re-register for the same course in a
following semester in order to complete unfinished assignments. A grade
of “I” cannot be changed to a grade of “W,” but within a year of its granting
will automatically revert to an “F” or “U.”
The following standard grading scale has been adopted for all courses
taught in the college.
A =
A- =
B+=
B =
B- =
96-100% of the points
92-95.9%
88-91.9%
84-87.9%
80-83.9%
C+ = 76-79.9%
C = 72-75.9%
C- = 68-71.9%
D = 64-67.9%
F = Below 64%
Writing well is essential to communicating ideas. Be logical and felicitous.
Proofread—or have someone you trust do this for you. UH has a good
Writing Center to assist you.
D. Plagiarism
To avoid any confusion concerning plagiarism, please consult and use the
APA style manual as well as the University Policy on Student Dishonesty
in the UH Student Handbook. The contents of ALL papers must adhere to
APA format with due credit given to any authors whose ideas (on line or in
print) you incorporate in your work. Direct quotations—using at least four
words from specific author(s)--must be set in quotation marks or set aside
as an indented quotation. Plagiarism is a serious academic offense:
Anyone incorporating another person’s ideas or words without appropriate
citation will receive an F in this course. Other actions may be taken by the
College, initiated by me, to suspect or expel a student who is found to be
dishonest.
E. Accommodation
Whenever possible, and in accordance with 504/ADA guidelines, the
SOCW 7354, Section 17514, Spring 2016
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University of Houston will attempt to provide reasonable academic
accommodations to students who request and require them. Students
must contact the UH Center for DisABILITIES. For information call
713/743/5400 or to on line, http: www.uh.edu/csd/
F. Office Hours:
I will be in room 333 on Tuesday mornings. For an appointment at another
time, call me at 713-516-8580 or email me at Achenbaum@uh.edu.
VII.
Policy on grades of I (Incomplete):
The grade of "I" (Incomplete) is a conditional and temporary grade given when
students are either (a) passing a course or (b) still have a reasonable chance of
passing in the judgment of the instructor but, for non-academic reasons beyond
their control have not completed a relatively small part of all requirements.
Students are responsible for informing the instructor immediately of the reasons
for not submitting an assignment on time or not taking an examination. Students
must contact the instructor of the course in which they receive an “I” grade to
make arrangements to complete the course requirements. Students should be
instructed not to re-register for the same course in a following semester in order
to complete the incomplete requirements.
The grade of "I" must be changed by fulfillment of course requirements within
one year of the date awarded or it will be changed automatically to an "F" (or to a
"U" [Unsatisfactory] in S/U graded courses). The instructor may require a time
period of less than one year to fulfill course requirements, and the grade may be
changed by the instructor at any time to reflect work completed in the course.
The grade of "I" may not be changed to a grade of W.
VIII.
Policy on academic dishonesty and plagiarism
Students are expected to demonstrate and maintain a professional standard of
writing in all courses, do one’s own work, give credit for the ideas of others, and
provide proper citation of source materials. Any student who plagiarizes any part
of a paper or assignment or engages in any form of academic dishonesty will
receive an “I” for the class with a recommendation that a grade of F be assigned,
subsequent to a College hearing, in accordance with the University policy on
academic dishonesty. Other actions may also be recommended and/or taken by
the College to suspend or expel a student who engages in academic dishonesty.
All presentations, papers and written assignments must be fully and properly
referenced using APA style format (or as approved by the instructor), with credit
given to the authors whose ideas you have used. If you are using direct quotes
from a specific author (or authors), you must set the quote in quotation marks or
use an indented quotation form. For all direct quotes, you must include the page
number(s) in your text or references. Any time that you use more than four or five
consecutive words taken from another author, you must clearly indicate that this
is a direct quotation. Please consult the current APA manual for further
information.
SOCW 7354, Section 17514, Spring 2016
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Academic dishonesty includes using any other person’s work and representing it
as your own. This includes (but is not limited to) using graded papers from
students who have previously taken this course as the basis for your work. It also
includes, but is not limited to submitting the same paper to more than one class.
It also includes securing another person to complete any required activities,
assignments, quizzes, papers, or exams in an online course, or in any on-line
environment. If you have any specific questions about plagiarism or academic
dishonesty, please raise these questions in class or make an appointment to see
the instructor. This statement is consistent with the University Policy on
Academic Dishonesty that can be found in your UH Student Handbook.
IX.
Americans with Disabilities Statement
The University of Houston System complies with Section 504 of the
Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990,
pertaining to the provision of reasonable academic adjustments/auxiliary aids for
students with a disability. In accordance with Section 504 and ADA guidelines,
each University within the System strives to provide reasonable academic
adjustments/auxiliary aids to students who request and require them. If you
believe that you have a disability requiring an academic adjustments/auxiliary
aid, please contact the UH Center for Disabilities at 713-743-5400.
READING ASSIGNMENTS FOR CLASS MEETINGS
January 25: Introduction. Instructor offers working definitions of spirituality and aging.
February 1: Weber & Orsborn, xv-xvii, Rumi poem, ch. 1-2
Rohr, ch. 1 at home. Incorporate into journal your reflections on this
exercise--a practice to be continued weekly
February 8: Hesse; Weber & Orsborn [henceforth W/O], ch. 3
February 15: W/O, ch. 4-5; Rohr, ch. 3
February 22: W/O, ch. 6-7; Rohr, ch. 4
February 29: W/O, ch 8 and Afterword; Rohr, ch. 5
March 7:
Book of Job; Rohr, ch. 6.
Rumi, “Only Breath”
March 14:
Spring Break
March 21:
Olsen, “Tell me a riddle;” Rohr, ch. 7
Rumi, “Gamble everything for love”
March 28:
AprThibault & Morgan, Introduction and ch. 1; Rohr, ch. 8
SOCW 7354, Section 17514, Spring 2016
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April 4:
Thibault & Morgan [henceforth T/M], ch. 2-3; Rohr, ch. 9
Rumi, A children’s game”:
April 11:
T/M, ch. 4-5; Rohr, ch. 10
April 18
T/M, ch. 6-7; Rohr, ch.11. Journals due to be shown in class.
April 25:
Tolstoy, DEATH OF IVAN ILYCH; Rohr, ch. 12
May 2:
Open discussion; Rohr, ch. 13
May 6:
Hard copy of your paper due in my office by noon
SOCW 7354, Section 17514, Spring 2016
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